Buffalo Bills Football Is Just Three Days Away

We are merely a few days away from the opening of the 2008 (pre)season for the Buffalo Bills. It's fair to say, I think, that the first preseason game marks the first real test of the newly-formed team. We've seen them in practice, in minicamps, in the OTAs, and now in training camp.

But Saturday, we see them in live, game action.

Saturday night, the Bills will face the Washington Redskins, who were one of the two combatants in the official preseason kickoff, the annual Hall of Fame game.

Honestly, this is a very good game. The Bills will face not only the Redskins this preseason, but the other team from last Sunday's matchup, the Indianapolis Colts.

Both teams look like they will be a good test for the Bills, a gauge for how the team has progressed, personnel-wise and coaching/system-wise.

I'm excited! I know it's only preseason, and really doesn't matter much at all (usually), but I am hoping, with so many questions going into 2008, that the Bills really use these four games to see what they've got and get ready for what could be such a great year for the team.

The big story surrounding the Bills, of course, is Jason Peters' lingering hold-out. How long will it last? Will he really hold out until they pay him more than the other linemen on the team?

That would mean some pretty serious fines and doesn't really work that much in his favor. Is he so sure they will break? Do the Bills think Peters will? I've said before, I really feel he should report to training camp, and then the Bills will take care of him. Perhaps he knows something I do not.

Other news from St. John Fisher...It seems the injury bug continues to bite. Thankfully, aside from rookie Alvin Bowen (a promising special teamer) the injuries, and subsequent absence from practice, have been mostly minor.

The coaches are erring on the side of caution, especially with veteran players. James Hardy has been bothered by a hamstring injury, and they have sat him for much of the first week-and-a-half of training camp, only giving him light duty. He will likely see action on Saturday though.

Hardy is one player I will be watching Saturday, as well as the offensive line, minus Jason Peters. Langston Walker has been seeing most of the action at left tackle in Peters' absence. Kirk Chambers moved to Walkers' spot at right tackle. Rookie Demetrius Bell has also been seeing some second-team action at left tackle.

It will be interesting to see what the Bills will try to do, especially since they face Washington on Saturday, with newly-acquired DE Jason Taylor, a premier pass rusher.

It will also be interesting to see if the offense will incorporate more throws to the RBs out of the backfield, or even with them lined up wide (saw that formation at training camp). Both Lynch and Fred Jackson can certainly be excellent offensive weapons in the aerial attack.

I'm sure Schonert won't reveal his full arsenal in the preseason (especially the first game), but it will be interesting to see how much different the Fairchild-less offense looks.

Other players to watch?

Ko Simpson has been a tad hobbled; will he be back to form at free safety? How much action will Leodis McKelvin get? Bills running backs Dwayne Wright and Xavier Omon will likely see a lot of action in the second half, and it will be interesting to see how they do against a good Washington defense.

Marcus Stroud and the rest of the D-line should see at least first-quarter action. Washington will be a good test for them, as their RB position looked very talented and deep.

Can't wait to see some game action! 7:00 PM on Saturday night! Football is almost here!

Go Bills!